Results for: Genovese

The 1964 Genovese murder in itself was not that unusual. Murders are an everyday occurance in New York City. What was shocking about this murder was over a 35-minute period, K…itty Genovese was stabbing while at least 37 neighbors heard her screaming, begging for help, as her killer came back not once but twice to stab her a total of three times, the last time fatally. After the final attact, one neighbor did call police, but not until he had called a friend in Nassua County to ask his advice. It was finally decided that calling the police would be the right thing to do. When the neighbors were asked why they didn't call police when Genovese first screamed for help the replies were: 'I don't know' OR 'I was tired. I went back to bed.' The rest of the country was horrified at the coldness of these New Yorkers. After this steps were taken to encourage people to 'get involved'. Are we not 'our brothers' keeper?' ( Full Answer )

On March 13, 1964, at about 3:00 in the morning, Catherine "Kitty" Genovese was dragged, stabbed, and raped by a man whom she did not even know. The incidence occurred near he…r apartment complex. She first confronted the man in her apartment parking lot but she was physically assaulted by him. What makes this case unique and interesting is the fact that there were at least 38 bystanders who watched her get stabbed and raped from their apartment windows. No one did anything but watch until it was too late. Someone had phoned the police but only after the assault ended. Kitty eventually died of blood loss. Were these bystanders really that heartless and cold? Were they too afraid to get involved? Social psychologists explained that the reason people did not want to take action is because there was a large presence of people, not because they were indifferent. This case introduced the term, the bystander effect. This states that if there are others present in a situation, the diffusion of responsibility would be greater. In Kitty Genovese's case, there were at least 38 people witnessing the assault but each one figured that at least one out of the other 37 would take some course of action. The more people that existed during a situation, the higher the potential for helpers. They were sure someone would do something about it. ( Full Answer )